RJ02-Reflective Journal Entry 3- Formative Assessment - Due Saturday, March 5,2011

  • Develop a activity that you can use to provide formative feedback. Describe this activity, upload it, and link it to this entry.
  • Describe the concept that is difficult to learn or the misconception that this activity addresses.
  • Provide a link in your description to the appropriate GSE.
  • Explain how your activity allows you to assess your students' understanding, as well as the feedback that you will provide to help them correct their thinking.


Activity: Adopt-An-Element
  • Research piece:
    • Students will research a randomly assigned element, filling out a note taking organizer of at least 20 facts
    • 2 days in the library to use books, encyclopedias, journals to research
  • Fact Sheet:
    • Students will fill out a fact sheet based on research they found in library
    • May need to do additional research online with websites that I have provided
  • Advertisement
    • Students will create an ad that is colorful and factual for their element, including the element's name, symbol, atomic number and mass.
    • Will use these ads to build a periodic table
  • Presentation of ad to class



This activity addresses the research process and the steps to go from research to final product. (The high school is criticizing the middle school teachers for not teaching the students how to research and put the research into use so my CT has suggested a research project.)

No GSE for the middle school level, but one that is similar for the high school level:
https://riscienceteachers.wikispaces.com/PS1+%289-11%29-3

Student Assessments:
  • Fact Sheet (10 points)
    • Informal assessment of understanding from walking around during research project and checking on our process
    • Formal assessment- final draft of fact sheet and checking that the info (ie. # of protons, neutrons, electrons) are correct from what they've learned in lecture and where to find facts
      • Feedback on how to find info, write down suggestions for future research projects
  • Advertisement (20 points)
    • See how students are able to translate research into a creative project (including the element's name, symbol, atomic number, mass, cost)
    • Feedback on what they could do to improve